If this is your first massage, please check out my blog post, What to Expect with Your First Massage

When is massage not appropriate?

Massage Therapy itself is relatively safe. Depending on what you have going on, we can usually adjust a few things in your massage (ie. length of time, position you are in, level of pressure you receive) but there are times that you will want to hold off:

• You have a fever - If you have a fever, you should be home resting or, if it’s really high, at a doctor’s office. Massage itself is not necessarily bad for you when you have a fever but your body if fighting something and adding a deep tissue massage doesn’t help. It can actually make you feel worse. Don’t come out and possibly infect people or make yourself feel even worse. Stay home and rest. That is what your body needs most of all.
• You are in a flare-up from an Auto-immune disorder - if you have an auto-immune disorder, this is probably not surprising. Massage can aggravate a flare and make it worse. Hold off making an appointment until your flare is over.
• Post surgery - Massage can be good to do after a surgery if you are in Physical Therapy but driving to get a massage is not ideal while you are recovering. You will usually have a doctor's visit scheduled 6 weeks post surgery. This is typically when your doctor will clear you to resume normal activities. Once you are cleared, we can revisit you receiving a massage. We can discuss how your body is feeling and decide then that massage is right.
• Wide spread inflammation or swelling - Something is going on in your body that is causing this. You should see your doctor before receiving a massage.
• Acute Injuries - Whether it’s from a fall, sports-related or a car accident, seeing your doctor to rule out any major issues is important. Your body is going through a healing process that massage should not be a part of. Recovery is a great time to come in and we can always discuss various options once you are out of the acute phase.

Is it ok to talk during my massage?

This time is your time. I am merely the facilitator. If you’d like to talk, we can talk. Believe me, I am a talker and I love talking with people. However, it is good to know that talking can make it harder to relax especially if we talk about something that upsets you or gets you excited or angry.

I woke up with a cold today. What should I do?

If you wake up the day of your massage and you are not feeling well, you should contact me to cancel your appointment. This is the case before the pandemic but especially now. I do have a cancellation policy in place but I can always make exceptions. You can also read my blog post on this topic here

What should I do after I receive a massage?

Here are some great ways to keep that good massage feeling going for a while:

Is it ok to exercise after I receive a massage?

Going for a walk/light jog or stretching are great to do after a massage. I would not do anything that you would be exerting a great deal of strength or energy like weights or long distance running/biking.

Should I feel sore after my massage?

It is perfectly normal to feel sore after a massage. If you haven’t received a massage in a while, your body will react similarly to how you would feel if you did a workout after a lapse in exercising. It is good to remember that soreness should last no more than 2 days. If you are sore past 2-3 days, the pressure was too much. Be sure to let me know at your next visit and I will ease up on the pressure.

What if I fall asleep, snore or drool during my massage?

This is a pretty common occurrence. Your parasympathetic nervous system is activated during a massage. This is our relaxation response. Breathing and heart rate slows. Your body’s natural healing process gets switched on. The room is warm and comfortable. There is soft, relaxing music playing. It is the perfect environment to fall asleep! I will wake you up when you need to turn over. It is a great feeling for me too because you feel safe and comfortable in my presence. Feel free to sleep, snore or drool. I take it as a compliment.

Can I get up to use the bathroom?

I encourage all of my clients to use the restroom before we start the session however, you should definitely tell me if you need to use the restroom during your massage. Holding in urine will just make you focus on that and not the massage. You won’t be able to relax and once I get to your low back, I will be pushing down on your bladder. I assure you, you will not be comfortable.

I have to pass gas.

This is a completely normal reaction. Like my Mom always says: Better out than in. This falls in line with having to use the restroom. You try to hold in gas, you will not feel comfortable. Do NOT hold in gas. There is no judgement on my end. It won’t be the first time or the last time someone passes gas on my table.

I forgot to shave.

Stubbly legs don’t bother me. Hairy armpits don’t bother me. I am human just like you. I have a young child. I don’t always get the perfect amount of time in the shower to shave. It happens. The oils I use work perfectly on your skin so I can barely feel the hair on your legs.

What should I do if I am uncomfortable in a certain position?

You should always speak up if you are uncomfortable. I can usually pick up body language that indicates you are not comfortable and I’ll ask if you are ok. This is the perfect time to tell me you are uncomfortable. You are not insulting me. I want you to be completely relaxed. I have been a massage therapist for a long time. I have a lot of tricks up my sleeve. I also have a lot of pillows and bolsters and their only job is to make you comfortable. Please let me know.

How much pressure is enough pressure?

There is a lot of confusion surrounding how much pressure is right. A lot of people think massage should hurt or be painful. Know pain No gain, right? This has been drilled into our brains. The truth is, you should be able to breathe comfortably throughout your massage. If you are coming in with a specific problem, we will work within your levels of comfort to ease the tension in that area. Holding your breath or tensing up your body should not happen.

Do you take walk-ins or same day appointments?

Due to my full schedule, I do not take walk-ins or same day appointments.

Do I get a full 60/90/120 minutes?

YES! I am proud to say that you receive the exact amount of time that was scheduled.

Do you offer couples massages?

Unfortunately I cannot.  There is no room in our office at the moment that can accomodate a couples massage.

What happens if I arrive late?

I take the time to schedule appointments with enough time to clean and sanitize my room before my next client. If you arrive late, we will use the rest of the time left.

What should I do if I need to cancel my appointment?

I ask that if you need to cancel your appointment, you give at least 24 hours notice. This allows me to find someone else to fill that spot. You will receive a reminder email 24 hours before your appointment. This email will have a link to reschedule your appointment, if you need to. If you know several days before your appointment, you can just log in to my online booking system and reschedule your appointment.

What forms of payment do you accept?

I accept all Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover as well as cash and checks

Do you take insurance?

I do not work with any insurance companies at this time. You can use your FHA or I can send you receipts that can be used to get reimbursed by your insurance carrier. Please contact your insurance to see if they will reimburse you for massage therapy.

Should I tip?

I am a sole practitioner with my own business. All of the money I receive goes into my own business account. My overhead is low at this time and my prices reflect the money I need to sustain my business as well as have my own, personal money. If you feel the need to tip, then feel free but it is not necessary and I don’t automatically assume that I will receive tips.

What if I get aroused or get an erection during my massage?

Arousal is a common parasympathetic response, so you shouldn’t feel bad. It is definitely not my intention for you to get aroused. I believe in my code of ethics and will always work within my boundaries. If there is a technique that I am doing that is causing arousal (rocking your torso or working on your quads), you can tell me to stop. I have a zero tolerance for sexual advances or innuendoes, even if it is a joke. Any inappropriate touching or comments will result in a termination of your session and you will not be welcomed back.

What if I have experienced a trauma (or abuse) that is triggered by touch? Should I let my Massage Therapist know?

Yes, please let me know that you have experienced trauma or abuse. You don’t have to give any details. This allows me to make sure that you will remain comfortable during your entire session. We can discuss areas or positions to avoid. You have control over what happens with your body and I will honor and respect that. If you want the session to end early, your session will end with no questions asked.